13 Must Know Luxury Boutique Designers

There has never been a more important space for luxury brands, than that of their retail stores. From the lighting to the materials, from the music to the bespoke furniture, boutiques offer an unrivalled environment in which brands can express their values and visions, and encapsulate the prestige of their houses. At the intersection of commerce, art and hospitality, stores have become venues for exclusive events, VIP cocktail receptions, presentations in invitation-only salons, private exhibitions and of course memorable shopping experiences.

It is therefore, not surprising, that luxury brands often collaborate with designers who have worked with five star hotels, superyachts and luxury residences, those who understand the desires, references and lifestyle of a discerning clientele, those who have mastered the codes and culture of the luxury world.

We investigated some of the most prominent interior architects and designers behind luxury emporiums and flagship stores. For a complete listing we invite you to explore the Luxury Society directory.

Jimmy Choo, Milan, by Giachi

Giachi, Milan

Paolo Giachi graduated architecture in Florence, eventually collaborating with the Interior Decoration Department in the faculties of Architecture of Milan. He moved to Hong Kong in 1996 to work for Prada Asia Pacific, as the responsible architect and oversaw store design from New Zealand to Japan for Prada, Miu Miu and Jil Sander. He was then engaged by the Tod’s group to launch Tod’s and Hogan boutiques worldwide, leaving in 2002 to begin his own activities, focusing on luxury retail projects and private residencies.

Giachi has designed stores for Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Smythson and Brioni, in Milan, Miami, Taiwan, Los Angeles and Florence.

RDAI, Paris

Rena Dumas discovered architecture as an adolescent, observing her brother studying architecture at the polytechnic in Athens. Graduating in Paris, she continued her education in Greece and the United States before being appointed director of Robert Anxionnat’s Paris practice. She went on to open her office, Rena Dumas Architecture Intérieure (RDAI), and began her collaboration with Hermès in 1976, of whom her business is still the principal design architect.

Whilst Ms Dumas passed in 2009, her firm has gone on to outfit the now iconic Hermès store on Rue du Rennes, once home to the Lutetia Hotel’s swimming pool. As well as Hermès boutiques in Dubai, Tokyo, New York, Seoul, Nuremberg and Kuala Lumpur.

Shed, London

Shed are a group of interior designers and architects who’ve been designing and delivering environments for some of the worlds leading companies since 2000, including the BBC, London 2012, Orange, Martini, Sony and Nokia. The team of UK based creative’s work across retail, leisure, workplace and exhibition markets, specialising in branded interior design, most recently for the Shoe Salon at Harrods and developing the global store concept for Vertu.

Househam Henderson, Hampshire

Originally conceived by Chris Henderson in Hampshire, Househam Henderson now operate offices in London, Berlin, Paris and Madrid. The ‘Househam’ part of the name reflects roots in a partnership in Lesotho, Southern Africa set up by Clive Househam in 1966. The Berlin office debuted in 1992, followed by London in 1995 and eventually Paris and Madrid in 2000. Each full locally managed office is able to offer a full architectural service to a host of multi-national clients, across several sectors.

Yabu Pushelberg, New York & Toronto

With studios in New York and Toronto, Yabu Pushelberg is divided into six teams, comprised of design and project management personnel, specialising in luxury design. The firm was honoured with the Platinum Circle Award for their exceptional achievement in the hospitality industry whilst partners George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg have been inducted into the Interior Design magazine Hall of Fame.

Gabellini Sheppard Associates, New York

Gabellini Sheppard Associates is a multi-disciplinary architectural and interior design firm based in New York City, designing on multiple scales from urban and commercial master plans to private residences, fashion boutiques and contemporary art galleries. After completing the inaugural Jil Sander flagship store in Paris, the firm has subsequently designed major retail environments such as the Bergdorf Goodman Contemporary Floor and Nicole Farhi boutique and restaurant in Manhattan, the 100,00sqm retail centre for Giorgio Armani in Milan and 90 stores and showrooms for Jil Sander worldwide.

Gabellini Sheppard has also designed stores for David Yurman, Salvatore Ferragamo, Vera Wang, b&b Italia and Gianfranco Ferré, in London, Venice, Las Vegas, Paris, New York, Hamburg, Milan, San Francisco and Dallas.

Peter Marino Architect, New York

Peter Marino Architect was founded by principal and now somewhat-celebrity, Peter Marino, in New York City in 1978. The firm now incorporates seven Associates and over 125 employees in New York, City, Philadelphia and Southampton. Specialising in commercial, cultural, residential and retail architecture, Marino has become a poster boy for luxury retail design, through his ongoing collaborations and conceptualisations with LVMH brands Dior and Louis Vuitton, as well as Chanel, Céline and Lancôme.

Architetto Roberto Baciocchi, Tuscany

Architect Roberto Baciocchi is the founder and proprietor of Baciocchi & Associati, an international architecture studio with headquarters in Arezzo Italy, comprising of Mr Baciocchi, six associate partners and 40 technicians and designers. Design work varies from residential, industrial and commercial architecture with a driving passion for interior design. Most notably, Baciocchi has realised the commercial and corporate environments for the Prada Group brands such as Prada, Miu Miu, Church’s and Car Shoe since 1982, fashioning the Miu Miu retail concept since its inception in 1988.

Architetto Roberto Baciocchi has designed stores for Prada, Miu Miu, Church’s and Car Shoe, as well as Italian multibrand boutiques Boccanera, Rome and Borgomaestro, Arezzo.

Garde, Tokyo

Originally founded in 1985 in Tokyo, Garde now operate offices in Osaka, Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Singapore, as well as Garde Italy in Milan. Their design work includes department stores, shopping centres, residential, hospitality, corporate interiors and food and entertainment venues, alongside their strong presence designing luxury boutiques.

Carbondale, Paris

Carbondale is an award winning internationally acclaimed Architecture office established in Paris, founded by American Architect Eric Carlson. A variety of projects have been realised by the practice, across the spectrum of urban, architectural, interior architecture and furniture design, in Europe, Asia and America. Carbondale was responsible for the design of the world’s first Louis Vuitton Maison, the six-story store on the Champs Elysées, Paris.

Wonderwall Inc, Tokyo

Founded in 2000 by Masamichi Katayama, Wonderwall interior design is best known for retail design, but has also engaged a wide range of design including architectural direction and product design, across Japan, Hong Kong, China, Russia, France, England and the United states. In 2008, famed Paris concept boutique Colette, commissioned Wonderwall to create a whole new look for their Rue Saint-Honoré store, where they developed individual concept areas for music and accessories, ready-to-wear, grooming products, and the Water Bar and cafe.

Vudafieri Saverino Partners & Deux L, Milan & Paris

Vudafieri Saverino Partners is a design firm specialized in architectural and corporate design projects. The firm, run by partners Claudio Saverino and Tiziano Vudafieri, has a workforce of 50, including designers and logistics & administrative staff. Since 2000, a significant part of the firm’s activity has been devoted to retail design projects for luxury prêt-à-porter brands, all undertaken in collaboration with Paris based Deux L, a design company based in Paris and run by Lena Pessoa. Over the past eight years, the partnership has resulted in approximately twenty retail Design concepts Worldwide, and over 350 individual store designs

Olivier Lempereur, Paris

Originally trained as a cabinetmaker, Olivier Lempereur went on to study interior design and work for Andrée Putman’s firm, the company in which he furbished his skills with exclusive projects for an elite clientele. After a brief return to his home country Belgium, where he took up the position of Artistic Director of AXV, it was not long before Paris called him back. The city where he began his own practice concerning the design of apartments and private homes, boutiques, trade showrooms and exhibition stands.

Sophie Doran is currently Senior Creative Strategist, Digital at Karla Otto. Prior to this role, she was the Paris-based editor-in-chief of Luxury Society.

Prior to joining Luxury Society, Sophie completed her MBA in Melbourne, Australia, with a focus on luxury brand dynamics and leadership, whilst simultaneously working in management roles for several luxury retailers.